In vitro studies of the thyroglobulin degradation pathway: endocytosis and delivery of thyroglobulin to lysosomes, release of thyroglobulin cleavage products--iodotyrosines and iodothyronines

Iodinated thyroglobulin stored in the thyroid follicular lumen is subjected to an internalization process and thought to be transferred into the lysosomal compartment for proteolytic cleavage and thyroid hormone release. In the present study, we have designed in vitro models to study: 1) the transfer of endocytosed thyroglobulin into lysosomes, and 2) the intracellular fate of free thyroid hormones and iodinated precursors generated by intralysosomal proteolysis of thyroglobulin. Open follicles prepared from pig thyroid tissue by collagenase treatment were used to probe the delivery of exogenous thyroglobulin to lysosomes via the differentiated apical cell membrane. Open follicles were incubated with pure [125I]thyroglobulin with or without unlabeled thyroglobulin in the presence or in the absence of chloroquine. Subcellular fractionation on a Percoll gradient showed that [125I]thyroglobulin was internalized and present in low (for the major part) and high density thyroid vesicles. In chloroquine-treated open follicles, we observed the appearance of a definite fraction of [125I]thyroglobulin in a lysosome subpopulation having the expected properties of phagolysosomes or secondary lysosomes. In contrast, in control open follicles, the amount of [125I]thyroglobulin or degradation products found in high density vesicles was lower and associated with the bulk of lysosomes, i.e., primary lysosomes. The content in thyroglobulin and degradation products of lysosomes at steady-state was analyzed by Western blot using polyclonal anti-pig thyroglobulin antibodies. Under reducing conditions, immunoreactive thyroglobulin species correspond to polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 130,000 to less than 20,000. The presence of free thyroid hormones and iodotyrosines inside lysosomes and their intracellular fate was studied in dispersed thyroid cells labeled with [125I]iodide. Neo-iodinated [125I]thyroglobulin gave rise to free [125I]T4 which was secreted into the medium. In addition to released [125I]T4, a fraction of free [125I]T4 was identified inside the cells. Lysosomes isolated from dispersed thyroid cells did not contain significant amounts of free [125I]T4. The free intracellular [125I]T4 fraction seems to represent an intermediate 'hormonal pool' between thyroglobulin-bound T4 and secreted T4. Evidence for such a precursor-product relationship was obtained from pulse-chase experiments. In conclusion: 1) open thyroid follicles have the ability to internalize thyroglobulin by a mechanism of limited capacity and to address the endocytosed ligand to lysosomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Characterization of lysosomal monoiodotyrosine transport in rat thyroid cells. Evidence for transport by system h

Lysosomal transport of monoiodotyrosine was characterized in countertransport experiments using rat FRTL-5 thyroid cell lysosomes. Monoiodotyrosine carrier activity was temperature-dependent (Ea = 11.65 kcal/mol) and had a pH optimum of 7.5. Carrier activity was minimally inhibited by KCl and NaCl, but unaffected by the presence of other ions or ATP. Monoiodotyrosine transport was unaffected by the presence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, nigericin, or ammonium chloride, indicating that a proton or K+ gradient is not necessary for monoiodotyrosine transport across the lysosomal membrane. Monoiodotyrosine countertransport showed a 6-fold increase in lysosomes from FRTL-5 cells grown in medium containing thyrotropin by comparison to cells grown without this hormone. Thyrotropin responsiveness raised the possibility that monoiodotyrosine was transported by system h, the only known lysosomal carrier whose activity is enhanced by thyrotropin. Consistent with this, monoiodotyrosine-loaded lysosomes exhibited countertransport of [3H]tyrosine, [3H]phenylalanine, and [3H]leucine, three system h ligands, but not [3H]cystine, a nonsystem h ligand. Unlabeled tyrosine, phenylalanine, and leucine, but not cystine or proline, inhibited [125I]monoiodotyrosine countertransport, and leucine inhibition of [3H]tyrosine countertransport and [125I]monoiodotyrosine countertransport yielded virtually identical KI values, 3.5 and 3.2 microM, respectively. Competition studies with monoiodotyrosine analogues showed that system h recognizes a broad range of ligands with an alpha-amino acid configuration at one end and a hydrophobic region at the other. Ring-substituted halogens, regardless of mass or ring position, but not amino, nitro, hydroxy, or methoxy groups, enhanced carrier recognition of system h analogues. It appears that a single system effects the transport of iodinated (e.g. monoiodotyrosine) and noniodinated (e.g. tyrosine) thyroglobulin catabolites into the cytosol for salvage and reutilization by FRTL-5 thyroid cells.     

Wheat germ agglutinin is selectively transported to multivesicular bodies.

Colloidal iron dextran particles bearing wheat germ agglutinin (WGA/FeDex) were bound by glycoconjugates expressed at the surface of HepG2 cells. Bound WGA/FeDex was internalized when cells were incubated at 37 degrees C and accumulated in intracellular structures which have the same buoyant density as the plasma membrane when examined on Percoll density gradients. The intracellular structures containing WGA/FeDex were identified as multivesicular bodies (MVB) by transmission electron microscopy. WGA/FeDex was not transported to lysosomes nor did it interfere with uptake and transport of GalBSA to lysosomes by the asialoglycoprotein receptor. WGA/FeDex was seen predominantly in non-coated invaginations at the cell surface, suggesting it may enter cells at a different site than GalBSA/FeDex. Highly enriched plasma membranes and MVBs containing superparamagnetic [125I]WGA/FeDex particles were prepared by high gradient magnetic affinity chromatography (HIMAC). Plasma membranes prepared by HIMAC were enriched 30-fold for [125I]WGA/FeDex, 15-fold for alkaline phosphodiesterase I, and 9-fold for galactosyltransferase relative to the crude post-nuclear homogenate and consisted entirely of plasmalemmal sheets. Intracellular structures containing WGA/FeDex were enriched 35-fold for [125I]WGA/FeDex, 10-fold for alkaline phosphodiesterase I, and 10-fold for galactosyltransferase but did not contain lysosomal beta-galactosidase. WGA/FeDex has a different ultimate destination in HepG2 cells than ligands internalized by the asialoglycoprotein receptor and can be used to obtain highly enriched plasma membranes and MVBs from cultured cells.     

Thioridazine enhances lysosomal accumulation of epidermal growth factor and toxicity of conjugates of epidermal growth factor with Pseudomonas exotoxin

Thioridazine, a phenothiazine calmodulin inhibitor, aggravated the cytotoxic effect of a conjugate (EGF-PE) of epidermal growth factor (EGF) coupled with Pseudomonas exotoxin against cultured HeLa cells. Other phenothiazine calmodulin inhibitors, trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine, also intensified the cytotoxic effect of EGF-PE, whereas N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide (W7) had no such effect. By using iodinated epidermal growth factor ( [125I]EGF), the effect of thioridazine on intracellular transport of EGF was examined. The release of radioactivity associated with [125I]EGF into medium was slow in the presence of thioridazine. The Percoll gradient centrifugation pattern showed that thioridazine delayed both the appearance of [125I]EGF in lysosomes and the disappearance of [125I]EGF from the lysosomes. The pH value in lysosomes was 5.28 in thioridazine-treated HeLa cells, while that in untreated cells was 5.15. Thioridazine was found to inhibit lysosomal enzyme activities of cathepsin B and acid phosphatase, but not beta-hexosaminidase when cell extracts were treated with the drug. Electron microscopy showed an increased number of electron-dense bodies, possibly autophagosomes/lysosomes in HeLa cells grown for 48 h with 3 micrograms/ml thioridazine. The potentiating action of EGF-PE by thioridazine is discussed in relation to the altered lysosomal function in treated cells.     

Scavenger receptor for malondialdehyde-modified high density lipoprotein on rat sinusoidal liver cells

We report here the presence of a membrane-associated receptor which mediates endocytic uptake of malondialdehyde-modified high density lipoprotein (MDA-HDL) on sinusoidal liver cells. Binding of [125I]MDA-HDL to the cells was followed by internalization and degradation in lysosomes. The binding and lysosomal degradation of [125I]MDA-HDL were effectively inhibited by unlabeled MDA-HDL and acetyl-HDL. However, formaldehyde-treated serum albumin or low density lipoprotein modified either by acetylation or malondialdehyde, ligands known to undergo receptor-mediated endocytosis by sinusoidal liver cells, did not affect the binding of [125I]MDA-HDL to the cells. These results indicate that a receptor for MDA-HDL is described as a distinct member among the scavenger receptors for chemically modified proteins.     

Relationship between medium pH and that of the lysosomal matrix as studied by two independent methods.

1. The method of estimating the intralysosomal pH by measuring the distribution of [14C]methylamine in lysosomes isolated from the livers of Triton WR 1339-treated rats has been critically examined. 2. In lysed lysosomes, methylamine is bound to the membrane fragments, but this binding can be completely suppressed by increasing the concentration of monovalent cations in the medium. 3. In intact lysosomes, the binding of [14C]methylamine is only partly inhibited by monovalent cations at 25 degrees C. 4. THe accumulation of [14C]methylamine in intact lysosomes is progressively inhibited as the concentration of methylamine is increased. A similar inhibition of [14C]methylamine accumulation is obtained with NH4Cl. 5. Similar values for the intralysosomal pH were obtained from measurements of the distribution of methylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine, which are accumulated in the lysosomes, and of 5,5-dimethyloxazolidinedione-2,4, which is excluded. 6. The breakdown of endocytosed 123I-labelled bovine serum albumin by intact isolated lysosomes is much less sensitive to the pH of the medium than the breakdown of added protein by lysed lysosomes. 7. The intralysosomal pH has been estimated by comparing the rate of breakdown of endocytosed 125I-labelled albumin in intact lysosomes as a function of medium pH with that of added 125I-labelled albumin by lysed lysosomes at different pH values. The values obtained agree well with those calculated from the distribution of [14C]methylamine. 8. Methylamine and NH4Cl inhibit the breakdown of 125I-labelled albumin in intact lysosomes, particularly at high medium pH, but have no effect on the breakdown by lysed lysosomes. 9. It is concluded that a pH difference across the lysosomal membrane (more acidic inside than outside) is maintained by the presence of indiffusible negatively charged groups within the lysosomes, and by the permeation across the lysosomal membrane of protons together with permeant anions (or of OH- in exchange for anions).     

Reduction of disulfide bonds within lysosomes is a key step in antigen processing.

Reduction of disulfide bonds is a key step in antigen processing both to allow the unfolding of protein antigens, increasing the access of proteolytic processing enzymes, and to expose free Cys residues within linear peptide epitopes recognized by T cells. We show here that reduction and alkylation of Ag (hen egg lysozyme and ribonuclease A) vastly increased their proteolysis (by specific enzymes or lysosomal fractions) and the production of specific immunogenic peptides that bound to class II MHC molecules recognized by T hybridoma cells. We also show that the lysosome is the vesicular compartment that mediates protein disulfide reduction. We coupled [125I]tyrosine to 131I-alpha 2-macroglobulin or [131I] transferrin via a reducible disulfide linker. Removal of [125I]tyrosine from the alpha 2-macroglobulin conjugate was initiated only after 15 to 20 min of uptake by macrophages, suggesting that reduction occurred late in the endocytic pathway. No reduction of transferrin conjugates was seen, indicating that early, recycling endosomes did not contain reducing activity. Subcellular fractionation showed that the disulfide bonds were reduced only in heavy density (lysosome) fractions and remained intact in fractions of light density (endosomes and plasma membrane). These results indicate the importance of lysosomes in the biochemical processing of protein Ag presented to T cells.     

Transcytosis in thyroid follicle cells

Inside-out follicles prepared from pig thyroid glands were used for studies on endocytosis. endocytosis. In this in vitro system, only the apical plasma membranes of follicle cells were exposed to tracers added to the culture medium. Cationized ferritin (CF) bound to the apical plasma membrane and was transferred first to endosomes and to lysosomes (within 5 min). Later, after approximately 30 min, CF was also found in stacked Golgi cisternae. In addition, a small fraction of endocytic vesicles carrying CF particles became inserted into the lateral (at approximately 11 min) and the basal (at approximately 16 min) plasma membranes. Morphometric evaluation of CF adhering to the basolateral cell surfaces showed that the vesicular transport across thyroid follicle cells (transcytosis) was temperature-sensitive; it ceased at 15 degrees C but increased about ninefold in follicles stimulated with thyrotropin (TSH). Thyroglobulin-gold conjugates and [3H]thyroglobulin (synthesized in separate follicle preparations in the presence of [3H]leucine) were absorbed to the apical plasma membrane and detected mainly in lysosomes. A small fraction was also transported to the basolateral cell surfaces where the thyroglobulin preparations detached and accumulated in the newly formed central cavity. As in the case of CF, transcytosis of thyroglobulin depended on the stimulation of follicles with TSH. The observations showed that a transepithelial vesicular transport operates in thyroid follicle cells. This transport is regulated by TSH and includes the transfer of thyroglobulin from the apical to the basolateral plasma membranes. Transcytosis of thyroglobulin could explain the occurrence of intact thyroglobulin in the circulation of man and several mammalian species.     

Relations between plasma membrane and lysosomal membrane. 1. Fate of covalently labelled plasma membrane protein

To quantify the kinetics of the plasma membrane flow into lysosomes, we covalently labelled at 4 degrees C the pericellular membrane of rat fibroblasts and followed label redistribution to the lysosomal membrane using purified lysosomal preparations. The polypeptides were, either labelled with 125I by the lactoperoxidase procedure, or conjugated to [3H]peroxidase using bisdiazobenzidine as a bifunctional reagent. Both labels were initially bound to plasma membrane, as indicated by their equilibrium density in sucrose or Percoll gradients and their displacement by digitonin, as well as by electron microscopy. Upon cell incubation at 37 degrees C, both covalent labels were lost from cells with diphasic kinetics: a minor component (35% of cell-associated labels) was rapidly released (half-life less than 1 h), and most label (65%) was released slowly (half-life was 20 h for incorporated 125I and 27 h for 3H). Immediately after labelling up to 30 h after incubation at 37 degrees C, the patterns of 125I-polypeptides quantified by autoradiography after SDS-PAGE were indistinguishable, indicating no preferential turnover for the major plasma membrane polypeptides. The redistribution of both labels to lysosomes was next quantified by cell fractionation. At equilibrium (between 6 and 25 h of cell incubation) 2-4% of cell-associated 125I label was recovered with the purified lysosomal membranes. By contrast, when 3H-labelled cells were incubated for 16 h, most of the label codistributed with lysosomes. However, only 6% of cell-associated 3H was bound to lysosomal membrane. These results indicate that in cultured rat fibroblasts, a minor fraction of plasma membrane polypeptides becomes associated with the lysosomal membrane and is constantly equilibrated by membrane traffic.     

Renal metabolism of 3'-iodohippuryl N(epsilon)-maleoyl-L-lysine (HML)-conjugated Fab fragments

Renal localization of radiolabeled antibody fragments constitutes a problem in targeted imaging and radiotherapy. Recently, we reported use of a novel radioiodination reagent, 3'-[131I]iodohippuryl N(epsilon)-maleoyl-L-lysine (HML), that liberates m-iodohippuric acid before antibody fragments are incorporated into renal cells. In mice, HML-conjugated Fab demonstrated low renal radioactivity levels from early postinjection times. In this study, renal metabolism of HML-conjugated Fab fragments prepared by different thiolation chemistries and by direct radioiodination were investigated to determine the mechanisms responsible for the low renal radioactivity levels. Fab fragments were thiolated by 2-iminothiolane modification or by reduction of disulfide bonds in the Fab fragments, followed by conjugation with radioiodinated HML to prepare [131I]HML-IT-Fab and [125I]HML-Fab, respectively. In biodistribution studies in mice, both [131I]HML-IT-Fab and [125I]HML-Fab demonstrated significantly lower renal radioactivity levels than those of [125I]Fab. In subcellular distribution studies, [125I]Fab showed migration of radioactivity from the membrane to the lysosomal fraction of the renal cells from 10 to 30 min postinjection. On the other hand, the majority of the radioactivity was detected only in the membrane fraction at the same time points after injection of both [131I]HML-IT-Fab and [125I]HML-Fab. In metabolic studies, while [125I]Fab remained intact at 10 min postinjection, both HML-conjugated Fab fragments generated m-iodohippuric acid as a radiometabolite at the same postinjection time. [131I]HML-IT-Fab registered two radiometabolites (intact [131I]HML-IT-Fab and m-iodohippuric acid), whereas additional radiometabolites were observed with [125I]HML-Fab. This suggested that metabolism of both HML-conjugated Fab fragments would occur in the membrane fractions of the renal cells. The findings of this study reinforced our previous hypothesis that radiochemical design of antibody fragments that liberate radiometabolites that are excreted into the urine by the action of brush border enzymes would constitute a useful strategy to reduce renal radioactivity levels from early postinjection times.     

Intracellular degradation of asialoglycoproteins in hepatocytes starts in a subgroup of lysosomes

Isolated rat hepatocytes take up and degrade [125I]tyramine-cellobiose-labelled asialofetuin [( 125I]TC-AF). The labelled degradation products are trapped at the site of degradation. The intracellular transport of [125I]TC-AF was studied by means of cell fractionation in Nycodenz gradients. The labelled ligand was kept in a small, slowly sedimenting vesicle during the first minutes after uptake in the cells, and was then transferred to a larger endosome. Labelled degradation products first appeared in an organelle with the same density distribution as the larger endosome and then in a denser organelle. These observations suggest that two types of lysosome, 'light' lysosomes and 'dense', are sequentially involved in the degradation of the asialoglycoprotein. The bulk of the lysosomal enzymes is associated with the dense lysosome.     

Effects of inhibitors of the vacuolar proton pump on hepatic heterophagy and autophagy

Bafilomycin A(1) (BAF) and concanamycin A (ConcA) are selective inhibitors of the H(+)-ATPases of the vacuolar system. We have examined the effects of these inhibitors on different steps in endocytic pathways in rat hepatocytes, using [(125)I]tyramine-cellobiose-labeled asialoorosomucoid ([(125)I]TC-AOM) and [(125)I]tyramine-cellobiose-labeled bovine serum albumin ([(125)I]TC-BSA) as probes for respectively receptor-mediated endocytosis and pinocytosis (here defined as fluid phase endocytosis). The effects of BAF and ConcA were in principle identical, although ConcA was more effective than BAF. The main findings were as follows. (1) BAF/ConcA reduced the rate of uptake of both [(125)I]TC-AOM and [(125)I]TC-BSA. The reduced uptake of [(125)I]TC-AOM was partly due to a redistribution of the asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) such that the number of surface receptors was reduced approximately 40% without a change in the total number of receptors. (2) BAF/ConcA at the same time increased retroendocytosis (recycling) of both probes. The increased recycling of the ligand ([(125)I]TC-AOM) is partly a consequence of the enhanced pH in endosomes, which prevents dissociation of ligand. (3) It was furthermore found that the ligand remained bound to the receptor in presence of BAF/ConcA and that the total amount of ligand molecules internalized in BAF/ConcA-treated cells was only slightly in excess of the total number of receptors. These data indicate that reduced pH in endosomes is the prime cause of receptor inactivation and release of ligand in early endosomes. (4) Subcellular fractionation experiments showed that [(125)I]TC-AOM remained in early endosomes, well separated from lysosomes in sucrose gradients. The fluid phase marker, [(125)I]TC-BSA, on the other hand, seemed to reach a later endosome in the BAF/ConcA-treated cells. This organelle coincided with lysosomes in the gradient, but hypotonic medium was found to selectively release a lysosomal enzyme (beta-acetylglucosaminidase), indicating that even [(125)I]TC-BSA remained in a prelysosomal compartment in the BAF/ConcA-treated cells. (5) Electron microscopy using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a fluid phase marker verified that BAF/ConcA inhibited transfer of material from late endosomes ('multivesicular bodies'). (6) BAF/ConcA led to accumulation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in autophagic vacuoles, but although the drugs partly inhibited fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes a number of autolysosomes was formed in the presence of BAF/ConcA. This observation explains the reduced buoyant density of lysosomes (revealed in sucrose density gradients). In conclusion, BAF/ConcA inhibit transfer of endocytosed material from late endosomes to lysosomes, but do not at the same time prevent fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes.     

Sorting of an internalized plasma membrane lipid between recycling and degradative pathways in normal and Niemann-Pick, type A fibroblasts

We examined the metabolism and intracellular transport of a fluorescent sphingomyelin analogue, N-(N-[6-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]caproyl])- sphingosylphosphorylcholine (C6-NBD-SM), in both normal and Niemann-Pick, type A (NP-A) human skin fibroblast monolayers. C6-NBD-SM was integrated into the plasma membrane bilayer by transfer of C6-NBD-SM monomers from liposomes to cells at 7 degrees C. The cells were washed, and within 3 min of warming to 37 degrees C, both normal and NP-A fibroblasts had internalized C6-NBD-SM from the plasma membrane, resulting in a punctate pattern of intracellular fluorescence. Rates for C6-NBD-SM internalization and transport from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane (recycling) were similar for normal and NP-A cells. With increasing time at 37 degrees C, internalized C6-NBD-SM accumulated in the lysosomes of NP-A fibroblasts, while normal fibroblasts showed increasing Golgi apparatus fluorescence with no observable lysosomal labeling. Since NP-A fibroblasts lack lysosomal (acid) sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), this result suggested that hydrolysis of C6-NBD-SM prevented its accumulation in the lysosomes of normal fibroblasts during its transport along the degradative pathway. We used the amount of C6-NBD-SM hydrolysis by A-SMase in normal cells as a measure of C6-NBD-SM transported from the cell surface to the lysosomes. After a lag period, C6-NBD-SM was delivered to the lysosomes at a rate of approximately 8%/h. This rate was approximately 18-19 fold slower than the rate of C6-NBD-SM recycling from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane. Thus, small amounts of C6-NBD-SM were transported along the degradative pathway, while most endocytosed C6-NBD-SM was sorted for transport along the plasma membrane recycling pathway.     

ATP-dependent acidification of membrane vesicles isolated from purified rat liver lysosomes. Acidification activity requires phosphate

Membrane vesicles were isolated from purified liver lysosomes of rats treated with Triton WR-1339. In order to preserve ATP-dependent acidification activity, proteolysis of membranes was minimized by adding protease inhibitors and by centrifuging to form dilute bands of vesicles rather than highly concentrated pellets. The membrane vesicle fraction represented about 20% of the total lysosomal protein, 80% of the ATPase activity, and 3% of the solute proteins as marked by N-acetylglucosaminidase. About one-half of the membranes were oriented right side out. The space unavailable to [14C]sucrose corresponded to 3 microliters/mg of membrane protein which indicates that the membranes form vesicles about one-tenth the size of lysosomes. Uptake of either [14C]methylamine or [14C]chloroquine by lysosomal membrane vesicles was ATP-dependent, indicating acidification of the intravesicle space. The acidification activity was inhibited when either 1.5 microM carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone, 100 microM dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, or millimolar concentrations of such permeant weak bases as ammonium sulfate and dansyl cadaverine were added. Acidification of lysosomal vesicles by ATP occurred electroneutrally. This acidification activity was not dependent on added salts but was inhibited by the anion transport inhibitors pyridoxal phosphate and diisothiocyanostilbene disulfonic acid, thus suggesting co-transport of protons and anions. Results which indicate that phosphate is the transported anion included (a) ATP-dependent uptake of [32P]phosphate by lysosomal membrane vesicles and (b) stimulation of ATP-dependent acidification of these vesicles by added phosphate. These observations provide further evidence that maintenance of the acid intralysosomal pH necessary for activation of lysosomal hydrolases is due to an ATP-driven proton pump located in the lysosomal membrane.     

Fluid endocytosis in isolated rat parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells

Fluid endocytosis in rat liver parenchymal (hepatocytes) and non-parenchymal cells was studied by measuring uptake of [¹²⁵I]polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Radioactive sucrose preparations were also tested but turned out to be unsuitable because of impurities of radioactive glucose and fructose. Fluid endocytosis was temperature dependent without any transition temperature. The rate of endocytosis was inhibited by inhibitors of the glycolytic and the respiratory pathway. Colchicine, but not cytochalasin B, inhibited the uptake of [¹²⁵I]PVP in hepatocytes. Therefore, intact microtubuli, but not microfilaments may be required for normal rate of fluid endocytosis in hepatocytes. Colchicine reduced the rate of fluid endocytosis in the non-parenchymal liver cells. Subcellular fractionation by isopycnic centrifugation in sucrose gradients indicated that [¹²⁵I]PVP taken up by the hepatocytes accumulated in the lysosomes. The rate of uptake expressed as volume of fluid internalized per unit time (endocytic index) was calculated to 0.08 μl/h/10⁶ cells for hepatocytes and 0.07 μl/h/10⁶ cells for non-parenchymal liver cells.     

Transport of acid phosphatase to lysosomes does not involve passage through the cell surface

In foregoing studies, we reported that LGP107, a major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein in the rat liver, distributes in and circulates continuously throughout the endocytic membrane system (endosomes, lysosomes and plasma membrane), in hepatocytes (1,2). In the present study we examined whether acid phosphatase (APase), an enzyme that is transported to lysosomes as a transmembrane protein, passes through the cell surface during intracellular transport, because transport of newly synthesized APase to lysosomes involves the passage of endosomes containing a ligand which is internalized via receptors on the cell surface and is finally dispatched to lysosomes for degradation (3). When localization of APase in rat hepatocytes was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy, APase was found to be localized in lysosomes and endosomes, but not in coated pits on the cell surface, which are positive for LGP107, and from which antibodies for LGP107 are internalized. Further, unlike LGP107, newly synthesized APase was not detected in plasma membranes isolated from livers of rats given [35S]methionine, and when cultured hepatocytes were exposed to 125I-labeled anti APase IgG at 37 degrees C, there was no transfer of the antibody to lysosomes even after 24 h incubation. Therefore, these results indicate that intracellular movement of APase does not involve cell surface passage in rat hepatocytes, and clearly differs from the recent report that human APase is transported to lysosomes via the cell surface in BHK cells transfected with its cDNA (4).     

Degradation of acetylcholine receptors in muscle cells: effect of leupeptin on turnover rate, intracellular pool sizes, and receptor properties

The cellular mechanisms of degradation of a transmembrane protein, the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), have been examined in a mouse muscle cell line, BC3H-1. The halftime of degradation of cell surface receptors labeled with [125I] alpha-Bungarotoxin ([125I] alpha-BuTx) is 11-16 h. Leupeptin, a lysosomal protease inhibitor, slows the degradation rate two- to sixfold, depending on the concentration of inhibitor used. The inhibition is reversible since the normal degradation rate is regained within 20 h after removal of the inhibitor. Cells incubated with leupeptin accumulate AChR. Little change in the number of surface AChR occurs but the amount of intracellular AChR increases two- to threefold. Accumulated AChR are unable to bind [125I] alpha-BuTx if excess, unlabeled alpha-BuTx is present in the culture medium during leupeptin treatment. Thus, leupeptin causes the accumulation of a surface-derived receptor population not previously described in these cells. Subcellular fractionation studies utilizing Percoll and metrizamide gradient centrifugation in addition to molecular exclusion chromatography suggest that the accumulated AChR reside in a compartment with lysosomal characteristics. In contrast, the subcellular component containing another intracellular pool of AChR not derived from the surface is clearly separated from lysosomes on Percoll gradients. The sedimentation properties of AChR solubilized from the plasma membrane and the lysosomal fraction have been compared. The plasma membrane AChR exhibits a sedimentation coefficient of 9S in sucrose gradients containing Triton, whereas the AChR derived from the lysosomal fraction exists in part in a high molecular weight form. The large aggregate and the organelle in which it resides may represent important intermediates in the degradative pathway of this membrane protein.     

Differentiation between ligand trapping into intact cells and binding on muscarinic receptors

Binding properties of [3H] dexetimide , L-quinuclidinyl[phenyl-4-3H] benzilate and [3H]methylscopolamine were compared with intact 108 CC 15 cells and membrane preparations of those. The ability of the three ligands to label specifically muscarinic receptors on membrane fractions was quite similar. By contrast, when performed with intact cells, [3H] dexetimide and L-quinuclidinyl [phenyl-4-3H]benzilate revealed higher nonspecific binding which was prevented by methylamine, suggesting a trapping of the ligands within the cells presumably in the lysosomes. To the contrary, such nonspecific 'binding' or trapping was not detectable when [3H]methylscopolamine was used as ligand, a fact which makes this ligand particularly appropriate for labelling cell surface muscarinic receptors. It is concluded that more caution is needed in binding studies when performed with intact cells; indeed, besides specific binding on receptor sites, [3H]ligand can be entrapped within the cell and can even sometimes give the illusion of specific binding. The use of lysosomal agents which do not interfere with specific receptors on membrane preparations should allow one, in most cases, to discard the possibility of a trapping phenomenon in intact cells.     

Insulin-like growth factors in sheep thyroid cells: action, receptors and production

Sheep thyroid cells cultured in serum-free medium were used to study the biologic activity, binding, and production of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin stimulated thyroid cell division. Abundant, specific IGF receptors on sheep thyroid cell membranes were identified by binding displacement studies. Maximal specific binding of [125I]-labeled IGF-I and IGF-II to 25 micrograms of membrane protein averaged 21% and 27% respectively. The presence of type I and type II IGF receptors was confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of [125I]IGFs covalently cross-linked to cell membranes. Under reducing conditions, [125I]IGF-I bound to a moiety of approximate Mr = 135,000 and [125I]IGF-II to a moiety of approximate Mr = 260,000. Cross-linking of [125I]IGF-I to medium conditioned by thyroid cells indicated the presence of four IGF binding proteins with apparent Mr = 34,000, 26,000, 19,000 and 14,000. Thyroid cells also secreted IGF-I and II into the medium. IGF synthesis was enhanced consistently by recombinant growth hormone. These data indicate that sheep thyroid cells are a site for IGF action, binding, and production and provide further evidence that IGFs may modulate thyroid gland growth in an autocrine or paracrine manner.     

Biochemical analysis of the movement of a major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein in the endocytic membrane system

HRP-anti LGP107Fab' and 125I-anti LGP107IgG were used as probes to study the movement of LGP107 in the endocytic membrane transport system in primary cultured hepatocytes of rats. Following the addition of HRP-anti LGP107Fab' to the culture medium, the transfer of the antibody conjugate from the cell surface of lysosomes was examined by cell fractionation on Percoll density gradients. The HRP tracer showed a bimodal subcellular distribution, in plasma membrane and lysosomal fractions. The amount of HRP found in the lysosomal fractions became larger as the period of cell incubation was increased. The rate of HRP accumulation in lysosomes was 0.13% of the administered load per hour per 10(6) cells. When cells were given 125I-anti LGP107 IgG, the antibody was not stored but was rapidly degraded in the lysosomes. The uptake of 125I-IgG by the cells, which was assessed by measuring the TCA-soluble radiolabeled degradation products released into the medium, increased proportionally to the administered concentration of the antibody and to the incubation time. The rate of uptake of the polyvalent 125I-IgG was comparable to that for the uptake of the monovalent HRP-Fab', and remained unchanged even after long exposure of the cells to a saturating concentration of the polyvalent IgG. This uptake process continued for many hours in the cells exposed to the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. These results suggest that there is a continuous circulation of LGP107 between the cell surface and lysosomes in hepatocytes.